It was first purchased for a modest $7,273.
Chris Kallenburg and Mary Hahn HudsonMilton Getz, executive director of Union Bank, first purchased the land in 1923. Two years later, he secured a permit to construct his 22-room dream home. Back then, it was broken into three plots: the 18,000-square-foot house, land for his daughters to build homes on once they got older, and a horseback riding ring.
The library was a love letter to Getz's wife.
The Beverly Estate | Berggruen HoldingsWhile mapping out the different rooms, the businessman made sure to include a two-story library, pictured here, for his wife. Estelle Getz enjoyed collecting rare books, and this special room gave her a gorgeous place to store all of them. The couple held onto the estate for 17 more years before ultimately selling it.
Getz paid special attention to the arched ceilings.
Jim BartschOne of the most iconic design elements of the Beverly Estate? The remarkable arched ceilings. Getz even hired Italian painter John Smeraldi to decorate some of these spaces with intricate motifs.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
You might know Smeraldi's other works.
Jim BartschHere's a closer look at one of the regal ceiling designs. Fun fact: Smeraldi also painted the ceiling of the famous Biltmore Hotel ballroom in Los Angeles, Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and the White House Blue Room, when President Theodore Roosevelt was in office.
The natural light is hard to beat.
The Beverly Estate | Berggruen HoldingsNot only are the arched ceilings beautiful, but they also make the rooms feel larger than life. Plus, the windows bring in a ton of sunlight and offer views of the gardens and fountains outside.
Actress Marion Davies purchased the estate for a touching reason.
Keystone//Getty ImagesThe home had three additional owners before actress Marion Davies snatched it in 1946 for $110,000. Previously, she'd been living at the famous Hearst Castle with her longtime partner, William Randolph Hearst. "He was in his 80s and he was having heart problems," Silverman told House Beautiful. "His doctors told him that he should be in L.A., closer to [them]. So that's why they moved."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Davies transferred ownership to Hearst before he died.
Bettmann//Getty ImagesWhile it's been debated whether Davies or Hearst actually owned the iconic home, the answer is simple: They both did. "She thought that he should die in a house that he owned, because they were never married," Silverman told House Beautiful. "So she transferred the ownership to him. And then when he died, he transferred it back to her."
William Randolph Hearst put his own touches on the house.
Jim BartschHearst had a huge real-estate portfolio. Besides one Scottish castle, the Beverly Estate was his only house he didn't build himself. Needing to focus on his health this time around, the newspaper tycoon didn't have much time to change the decor, but he did bring over some key features from Hearst Castle, like the library cabinets and wooden door frames throughout the home.
The third pool in the backyard wasn't always there.
Mel Melcon//Getty ImagesIt used to be a huge fountain. After moving in, Hearst converted the structure into a pool. However, the now-iconic cascading pond was an original amenity.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Hearst influenced the home even after his death in 1951.
Jim Bartsch"[Hearst] was just this crazy collector, and he had warehouses full of antiquities," Silverman told House Beautiful. "And [his estate] wanted to get rid of some of it. They sold some of it to architects and interior designers." The result? These gorgeous Venetian columns were installed by the pool in the 1960s, after the new owner bought them from Hearst's estate sale.
Take a closer look at those columns.
The Beverly Estate | Berggruen HoldingsThey create a separate outdoor space for sunbathing or comfy cabana furniture—and they certainly add a royal flair to the already-chic yard.
The billiard room didn't always have a fireplace.
Jim BartschA Hearst Castle staple for years, this mantel was another element brought in from the newspaper tycoon's estate sale back in the '60s.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The fabric walls were new too.
The Beverly Estate | Berggruen HoldingsThey added a sophisticated feel to the space. Everything else about this room was pretty much unchanged from the 1920s.
There may be secret treasures behind the main dining room mirrors.
Jim BartschThere used to be artwork covering every wall in the main dining room. "In the '60s, they put up these mirrors on top of the paintings," Silverman told House Beautiful. "The hope is that when we take off the mirrors, that the mural will be behind it. We took off one, just to see if it's under there, and it wasn't underneath that one. But it might be underneath the other ones."
Each dining room wall had a theme.
Chris Kallenburg and Mary Hahn HudsonFor reference, here's a photo circa the 1930s of the same dining room. You can see the wall-to-wall murals, by artist Hugo Ballin. Each wall was meant to symbolize a different theme: the arts, the seasons, religion and philosophy, and the five senses.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Yes, there's a second (smaller) dining room.
Jim BartschGo through the big carved wooden doors, and you'll find yourself in another—smaller—dining room. The bright color, patterned wallpaper, and dark wooden touches bring a Mediterranean feel to the room.
The hallways are long.
Jim BartschIt wasn't always pink.
Jim BartschWhile you might recognize the Beverly Estate's pink exterior, it was originally white. It was first painted the pastel color in the '60s.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The outdoor space was inspired by Italian gardens.
Jim BartschWith its dome-like gazebo, sculpted hedges, and flowered pathways, it's not hard to see the landscape designer's inspiration.
The terrace staircase offers easy access to the pool.
Jim Bartsch"Indoor-outdoor living was big in the '20s," Silverman told House Beautiful. The terrace was created as the perfect place to look out on the cascading pond below—and consider a dip in the pool.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below